Apparatus for forming metal bodies



.lr A. JoHNsoN APPARATUS FOR FORMING METAL BODIES 9 Shee 13s-Sheet 1 Filed lay 2. 1936' April 9, 1940. J. A. JOHNSON APPARATUS FOR FORMING METAL BODIES Filed lay 2, 1936 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 |II I. Il I I. Il I I l I I I II |I .Il I l I I l I l I I I I I I |I l N V.. O R E om 0 SMN nm vo.\ MW. O. 5 m n." -l #Q W O O O @n O H o O o m Q mw s s s M I 2N n I II w.. In Q2 w mn um o@ m Nm. H: me. HM ww QQ -..IhIWlll I HEIIwN I I ,M .HHWWIIHI Mil.. VWMIITIIWII WMEHMHIIIITII I. -n NN Q E I I #wel ,a ....IMmH @n L I /j #mi 2. .1 r. N: mm van @o :n `N` .III .n- M m; Q Q Q n? www@ S om O O O O Aprila, 1940.

J. A. JoHNsoN I APPARATUS FOR FORMING METAL BODIES Filed lay 2, 1936 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR adam/50N BY a Q-7W ATTORNEY mwN @Swim @.IH

9 sheets-sheet `4 April 9, 1940. J. A. JoHNsoN AHARATUS FOR FORMING METAL BODIES Filed lay 2, 1956' April 9, 1940. J. A. JOHNSON APPARATUS FOR FORMING METAL BODIES Filed lay 2, 1956 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR /.HJH/VS/V ATTORNEY April 9, 1940.

J. A. JOHNSQN APPARATUS FOR FORMING METAL. BODIES Filed lay 2. 1936 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR4 H. JHA/.S'

BY j 0.

ATTORNE ly DEMS IIIII @w1 -Ap 9, 1940.' J. A. JOHNSON APPARATUS FOR FORMINCY METAL BODIES Filed lay 2, 1956 9 Sheets-Sheet 7' ATTORNEY i April 9, 1949.

J. A. JQHNsoN APPARATUS FOR FORMING HETAL BODIE-S Filed lay 2, 1936 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 |NVENTOR 2f. H. JUH/VU/V BY m/0 I ATTORNE April 9, 1940. A. JoHNsoN 2.196.262

APPARATUS FOR FORMING IETAL BODIES l -Fi'led lay 2, 1936 v 9 SheetsAJ-Sheejt 9 H912@- 4 11p-7 2 7 #idg/fg 50N ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 9,1940 I v A.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE i f- A 2,196,262 j l APPARATUS FR F'ORMING METAL yBODIES `l'ohn A. Johnson, Woodhaven, N. Y. f Application May 2, 1936, Serial Nor-77,589 2o claims. (c1. 11s-11) This invention relates to. apparatus for forming cup assumes its normal position and positions ysaid sheet metal bodies of tubular form, particularly blank on the rails in alinement with pairs of cut-A used 'in the manufacture of spools having an ters carried by a head adapted to bereciprocated nular heads of sheet material secured to the opv toward and away from the rails to notch the corf posite ends of the bodies, and it is the principal ners of the blank on the rails to `facilitate the 5 object of the invention to provide an apparatus securing ofthe opposite end portions of the blank in which a plurality of blanks are simultaneously together. The blank after it is notched is adand progressively operated on automatically. vanced on the rails by a pair of vdogs mounted on It is an object of the invention to provide an a pair of feed bars carried bythe carriage to a` 3u apparatus which is readily adjustable to form horn extending` longitudinally from the rails and 10v sheet metal bodies of various lengths. the blank is positioned by the pair of dogs on the It is another object of the invention to feed hOln TelatiVe 'GO a Shaping die Carried by the the body blanks to the apparatus by a novel arheadA to bend the blank to U shape on the'horn.

rangement f Suction Ingang After the blank iS bent t0 U Shape, it iS ad It is a further object of the invention to provide VanCed On the horn by a Series 0f dogs carried 15 a novel arrangement of parts to notch the corby the pair 0f feed bars relalVe S0 guide memners of the blank Without injuring the blank. n bers pivotally mounted to permit actuation -of` Another object of the invention is to provide Said Illlfllbelfs away from the hOIn OI the pur* novel means to intermittently advance the blanks pose of inspection and removal of blanks which 2O through the apparatus without the use of lan exlhave jammed on the horn and said members are 20 oessive number of parts. locked in guiding position. by latches operated A further object of the invention is to yieldingby a single handle. The blanklis advanced by ly maintain the blank in predetermined positions the series of dogs on the horn under the guiding on a horn during the forming of said blank into members to bending tools reciprocatory laterally a metal body. l of the horn to bend laterally the free end portions 25 Astiu further object of the invention is to pro- 0f the blank 0n the horn preparatory to the n vide novel means actuated by a single handle forming of hooks at said portions, and then the for maintaining guide members in position to blank is advanced by the series of dogs to tools guide the blank on a horn. reciprocatory vertically toward and away from 0 A still further objectof the invention'is to prosaid bent ends of the blank 'to form the hooks. 30 vide novel means for engaging hook shaped ends After the hooks are formed, the blank is ad-A of the blank with each other and form the blank vanced by the series of dogs to a portion of the to circular shape. l t horn which is circular in cross section and to a Further objects of the invention will hereinpair of blades reciprOCaOrY toward and'aWaY after appear in the description of the apparatus from the ODDOS@ SideS'O the' horn t0 engage'the 35 embodying the invention. e' hooked portions with each other and Wrap the The embodiment of the invention comprises blank to circular shape about the horn. Then the pair of yrails mounted belowv a hopper adjustable circular shaped blank iS advanced OTO the hom-by to support body blanks of various sizes in stack the series of dogs to an anvil juxtaposed to'the y formation and the lowermost blankl being sepaupper portion of the horn and a ram reciproca- 40 rated from the stack of.. blanks by suction means tory toward and away from the lower portion of comprising a suction cup adjustable to correthe horn to Clamp the engaged hOOkedpOrtiOnS spon-d with the adjustment of lthe hopper and together to form a securing seam of a completed normally positioned'in spaced relation tothe loW- body When vthe Series 0f dOgS mOVe' the Ormed i ermost blank and actuated into engagement with metal bods7 from the ram and 01T the horn. 45 the lower-most blank bythe reciprocation of a In the drawings aCCOmpanyng and forming carriage mounted below the' suctionv cup. The .apart of this application, Figure l is a side ele-' suctioncup is in communication with means to vational view of apparatus embodying the invencreate a suction operativein synchroni-sm with tion. the reciprocation of a carriage to'createa suction Figure 2 is a plan View, on an. enlarged scale, 50v while the suction cup engages-the lowermost blank looking atthe top of Figure 1,of an end portion and assumes its normal position with the lowerof the apparatus arranged with the hopper, sucmost blank attached thereto by suction. A feed tion means for separating the lowermost blank f bar carried .by the carriage lengages and strips from the stack of blanks in the hopper, the feed the blank from the vsuction cup after the suction bar to advance'the blankfrom the hopper and 55 suction means, the corner notching means, and the die to form the blank to U shape on the horn.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing adjustable mounting of the feeding bar for advancing the blank from the suction cup and the` pair of feeding bars on the carriage.

Figure 5 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows and showing the structure of the suction creating means.

Figure 6 is a perspective View of the suction cup in its normal position and reiative tomeans on the carriage for positioning the cup into engagement with the lowermost blank in the hopper.

Figure 7 is a sectional view of the suction cup showing the same actuated in engagement with the lowermost blank by the means on the carriage.

Figure 8 is a view showing the position assumed by the lowerinost blank after it has been separated from the stack of blanks by the suction cup.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary view taken substantially on the line 2-9 of Figure 8 looking in the direction of the arrows and showing in dotted lines the stripping of the blank from the suction cup by the feeding bar.

Figure 10 is a sectional View, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line lil-I0 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows to show the structure of the notching cutters.

Figure 1l is a sectional View, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line l l-l l of Figure l looking in the direction of the arrows to show the die for forming the blank to U shape.

Figure l2 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure l1 showing exible members being actuated out of their normal position during the forming of the blank toy U shape on the horn.

Figure 13 is a perspective view of the head carrying the cutters and shaping die shown in Figures 10 and 11.

Figure 14 is a side elevational View of the guide members for maintaining the U shaped blank on the horn and means for forming the hooks on the opposite end portions of the blank.

Figure 15 is a cross sectional view taken on the line Iii-l5 of Figure 14 looking in the direction of the arrows showing in dotted lines the guide members actuated to position away from the horn.

Figure 15a is a diagrammatic view of the blank shown in Figure 15.

Figure 16 is a persaective View in section showing the tools for bending laterally the opposite ends of the U shaped blank in their initial position.

Figure 17 is a View similar to Figure 16 showing the tools bending the opposite ends of the blank in a lateral direction.

Figure 17a is a diagrammatic view of the blank shown in Figure 17.

Figure 18 is a fragmentary view of the carriage showing a cam slot therein for the engagement of a roller carried by the bending tools shown in Figures 16 and 1'? to actuate said tools laterally of the horn.

Figure 19 is a longitudinal section of the means for forming the hooks on the blank shown in Figure 14.

Figure 20 is a cross sectional View, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 2Q-2t of Figure 14 looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the tools for forming the hooks on the blank.

Figure 21 is a perspective view of Figure 20 showing the tools actuated to position to form the hooks.

Figure 21a is a diagrammatic View of the blank shown in Figure 2l.

Figure 22 is a perspective view of a feed bar of the pair of feed bars showing mounted thereon a dog of the pair of dogs and a dog of the series of dogs.

Figure 23 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 23.-23 of Figure l looking in the direction of the arrows to show the pair of blades for engaging the hooks of the blank in their initial position.

Figure 24 is a view, on an enlarged scale, looking at the top of Figure 23 to show the blades in plan View.

Figure 25 is a fragmentary sectional view in perspective of the blades showing one of the blades positioning a hook juxtaposed to the hook engaged by the other blade.

Figure 26 is a perspective View of actuating means to impart reciprocation to the carriage.

Figure 27 is a cross sectional View, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line ZL-T' of Figure l looking in the direction of the arrows to show the ram in its fully actuated position clamping the hooks of the blank together to form the securing seam of the metal body; and

Figure 28 is an elevational View of the ram in its initial position.

Like characters will designate like parts throughout the description of the apparatus disclosed in the accompanying drawings,

In carrying out the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings the operative parts are mounted upon a suitable framework comprising a table T supported from a base B by standards S, and said operative parts are actuated from a drive shaft 2a rotatably mounted in bearing brackets 3i? supported on one of the standards S. The Shaft 29 is operatively connected to a suitable source of power, such as an electric motor, not shown, through a belt adapted to be engaged on a pulley 3| loosely mounted on the shaft 29 and adapted to be connected to said shaft by a clutch member 32 rotatable with and slidable on the shaft and actuated by a lever 33 pivotally mounted on the base B by a bifurcated bracket 34 and connected with the clutch member through a pin and slot connection 35 to permit rotation of the clutch member with the shaft 29, as shown in Figure 23.

Means to deliver a blank to the apparatus, notch the corners of the blank, form the blank to U shape, and engage the hooked portions of the blank with each other, are directly actuated from a shaft 36 rotatably mounted in bearings arranged in the standards S. The shaft 36 is driven from the drive shaft 29 through bevelled pinions 37 Xed on both shafts in meshing engagement with each other, as shown in Figure 27.

The bodies are formed from rectangular blanks b of sheet material supported in stack formation in a hopper comprising a pair of standards 38 xedly mounted on the upper surface of the table T in spaced relation to each other and on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the table to constitute the side walls of the hopper with one standard nearer the axis than the other standard, and the inner face of both standards are recessed to form vertical edges for the engagement of an edge of the blanks at the opposite ends of the blanks, as at 39 in Figures 2 and 3. The blanks are supported in the hopper by shoulders 40 mounted on the standards 3S inthe inner recessed `amazes in any pair of alined recesses by screws 43, as., shownin Figures 2 and 3. The adjustably mountedv plate 42 releasably carries a bar 44 arranged with serrations adjacent the lower Aend to engage a s ide edge of the lower blanks, and

maintain and support the blanks in stack formation in the hopper, as at 45 m Figures 3 and 9.

The lowermost blank in the hopper is separated from the stack of blanks by suction means comprising a suction cup 48 arranged on the upper edge of a' block 41 having an air passage 48 extending ltherethrough and communicating with the cup and having an outlet through a side wall thereof. lThe suction cup carrying block 41 is adjustably mounted on a slide member 49 by a screw 5G threaded in the member 49 and engaging a slot 5I in the block 41 to permit adjustment of the suction cup corresponding to the adjustment of the plate 42. The member 49 is slidably mounted in a slideway formed by a U shaped v bracket 52 having perforated vbosses 53 extended from the leg portions thereofffor the" mounting of the bracket on a lowerportion of one of the standards 38 by screws engaged in the perforations of the bosses andthe standard, as shown in Figures 3 and 5. The member 49 is retained in the bracket 52 by a plate 54 secured to theends of the leg portions of said bracket by screws and said plate being arranged-with a flanged portion 55 at the lupper edge thereof to extend into a recessed portion 56 in the member 49 and form an expansible chamber for aV cylindrical spring 51 normally positioning the suction cup 46 in spaced relation to the lowermost blank in thehopper. Themovement of the suction cup carrying' block 41 in a downward direction under the force of the spring 51 is limited by a portion 58 extending laterally from the block 41 to abut the upper edges of the bracket 52 and plate 54, said lateral extension 58 having arranged therein the outlet of the air passage 48, as shown in Figure 7.

The suction used to separate the lowermostv blank from the stack of blanks is created by a pump consisting of a cylinder 59 fixedlymount-l ed on the base B and adapted to receive a piston" frame work B, S, T, and connected to the air passage 48 through a flexible hose 84 engaged at the opposite ends on the pipe E3 and a nozzle 65 fixed inl the air passage outlet in the block extension 58 to permit reciprocation of the block 41. lIn ,the joperation of the pump the inward stroke of the piston will force the air from the cylinder through a valve, as indicated y at 66, connected to the bottom of the cylinder and adapted to be actuated to open position by v the pressure in `the vcylindercreated by theinward stroke of the piston, thereby `preventing air pressure entering the pipeline 63, and the in Figure 5.

outward vstroke of the piston closing the valve 68 and creating a suction in the pipe line 83.

. To control the suction at the suctiongcup a shut off valve is arranged inthe pipe line B3 actuated by a handle 61. r l.

The suction cup carrying block 41 is actuated A,against the force ofl the spring 51 to position lthe suction cup in engagement with' the lowermost blank in the hopper by the reciprocation of a carriage or slide 58y slidably mountedv in a channel slideway 69 arranged in the top` of table T along the longitudinal axis thereof, as shown The carriageis arranged with a cam 10 fxedly mounted in the upper face thereof and'having an oblique cam face` to cci-operate with an oblique cam face on the slidable member 49 and move said member in a directiony toward the hopper against the force of the spring 51. The carriagev is reciprocated and the cam is moved relative to the member 49m synchronism with the actuation of the suction pump by the rotation of the drive shaft through a, shaft 1l` rotatably mounted parallelly of the drive shaft in bearings 12 carried by the table T and the standard S, Figures l andy 27, the vshaft 1| being driven from shaft 29 through gears 13 'iixedly mounted on the ends of said shafts'. The shaft 1| reciprocates the carriage 88 through a crankr disk 14 xedly mounted on said'shaft'and hav-l ving a crank pin 15 engaging a block 18 slidable 1n avertical recess 11 in a cross head 'i8 having av horizontal slot 19 engaging the shaft 1i and an arm llconnected to' the carriage by f screws, as at 8| in Figure 23.

The actuation of the carriage 88 andthe piston 60 of the suction pump is in synclironism so that a suction is being'` created during the engagement of the suction lcup 46 with the lowermost blank and said suction is maintained duringr the'actuation of the cam 10 out of engagement with the "slidable member 49 and the loweringv of said memberby the spring 51 to separate the lowermostblank from the stack Vof blanks.

The, movement of the suction cuphaving'the `lowermost blank attached thereto by suction from its fully actuated position to its normal position will flex the attached vblankas the opposite ends of said blank will be engaged by Jtheshoulders 48 of the hopper, as shown in Figure 8." Ihis flexing o-f the lowermost blank will ensure the separation of said blank from its adjacent blank. l

l The blank separated from the stack of blanks in the hopper is stripped from rthe suction cup by ar feed bar 82 adjustably mounted at one end on a supporting block 83 xedly mounted on the upper face of the carriage k88 with the opposite end of the bar bifurcated and a plate 84 spanning the bifurcation to form a recess in the underface of the feed bar to permit reciprocation of the bar past the suction cup 48,' as shown in Figure 3. The forward end of the'plate 84 is bevelled'andy extended beyond the legs of the bifurcated end of the feed bar tov engage and preventthe blank attached to the suction cup from assuming a flat position while the blank is moved from the suction cup and along the shoulders 40, said shoulders being rounded, as shown Yin Figure 8, to facilitate the moving of the blanks from the hopper. y

After the vblank-is stripped from the suction v cup and removed from the hopper it is positioned table T, as shown in Figure 10. The blank assumes its normal nat condition when it is positioned on the rails and is maintained on the rails in such condition by a pair of guide rails i3 of angular shape with one angle portion having. a lateral ange for the engagement of screws to attach and support the guide rails on the adjustable plate d2 of the hopper, as at 89 in Figure 2, with the other angle portion extending in parallel spaced relation to the blank supporting rails 35, as shown in Figure 3. The rails S5 support the blank in at condition relative to means for notching the corners of the blank to facilitate the forming of the side securing seam of the metal body and the attachment of the heads to the formed body, comprising two pairs of cutters 90, each pair of cutters beingint-egral with a plate Si releasably mounted on a flange of a pair of anges 9E integral with and extended from the underface of a cross head 93 supported and connected by lateral extensions 51? to a pair of slides 95 slidably mounted in standards .fit nizedly supported on the face of the table T at the opposite sides thereof. The cutters may be readily removed from the flanges 92 by screws to be substituted for cutters that are spaced dierent distances corresponding to the width of the blanks which are being operated on to form bodies of predetermined length and will correspond to the adjustment of the plate i2 of the hopper, as indicated in dotted lines at 58 iny Figures 3 and 13. The cutters are reciprecated toward and away from the rails S5 and die plate 86 from the shaft 38 through an eccentric disk 99 ixedly mounted on the sli-ait and adapted to be engaged by a strap it@ having an internally screw threaded boss iEi for the adjustable engagement of a screw thread-ed iink Elli. screw threaded in a screw threaded socket member iilB engaged between and pivotally connected to a pair of cross members ilfi connected at the opposite ends to the lower end portions of the slides 95, whereby the cutting stroke of the cutters may be varied by the turning oi' the link H22 by an abutment plate 05 connected to the link and adapted to be clamped to the boss i3! and socket member H33 by a screw il engaged in an intermediate portion of the link The die plate 8B is arranged with four openings lill' co-operating with the cutters gil to notch the corners 'of the blank, as at n, and the supporting block l and table T are arranged with corresponding openings to permit the scrap metal to drop from the apparatus, as at iii' in Figure l0.

The blank is advanced from the notching cutters 9D and the supporting rails to means for bending the notched blank to U shape in cross section by a pair of dogs in the form of a lever i138 having a blank engaging head arranged at the forward end thereof with a projecting poi'- tion to engage over the upper surface of the blank, as at SSS in Figure 22, and pivotaily mounted at the rear oi the bead in a bifurcated portion of a bracket Sill xedly mounted on the side of a feed bar of a pair of feed bars Il! supported at one end in recesses in the side portions of the block 83 or" the carriage G8 and releasably retained in said recesses by clamping plates H2 releasably secured to the block 33, as shown in Figures 3 and fr. The bifurcated portions of the dog supporting brackets lill extend above the feed bars lil' and the heads of the dog levers 68 are yieldingly urged in an upward direction away from the feed bars by a helical spring H3 engaged between the dog lever heads and the brackets HD, to engage the rearward edge of the blank on the rails after the notching of the blank with the projecting portions [E9 of the dog heads extending over the upper surface of said blank to retain the blank in engagement with the dog heads. The blank cngaged by the dogs 49S is maintained in fiat condition during the 'travel from the notching means to the bending means by the guide rails 83 and a rail il@ supported adjacent one end thereof by a cross member H5 mounted at the opposite ends on the supporting block Sl', with the rails 88 also being supported by the cross member on opposite sides of the rail E54, as clearly shown in Figure 11.

The blank is positioned by the dogs 588 in superposed relation to a male die member in the iorn of a horn i i having an outer contour of an inverted U and mounted against lateral displacernc-nt in a supper ing block lil' supported on the top of the table "i" to straddle the channel slideway 5,9 and the carriage GS, as shown in Figure il. The blank being supported by the horn bent about the same to inverted U shape by a shaping or female die comprising a block H8 removably carried by the head S3 and having a U shaped recess lit* in the lower face thereof to engage and bend the blank about the horn during the downward movement of the head, as shown in Figure l2, whereby a blank is formed to U shape at the saine time another blank which has been stripped from the suction cup l5 is notched by the cutters Sil. The recess il!) is arranged with a slotted portion i extending vertically into the block H8 to accommodate. the guide rail E i4 in the fully actuated position ol' the iornn'ng die block H8. To prevent the opposite end portions of the U shaped blank from springing away from the horn while the die block H8 is reciprocated to its initial position, pair o plates l2! of resilient material, such as spring steel, are xed at one end portion to vertical extensions l22 of the horn supporting block lil with the opposite end portions terminating adjacent the opposite sides ol the horn, as shown in Figures 2, 11 and l2. To permit the bending or"I the blank on the horn without interference with the resilient plates ii, said plates are moved to a position away from the horn by a pair of rods |23 slidably mounted in the head on opposite sides of the shaping die iii? and retained in the head by collars lflfi xed on an end portion of the rods to abut the upper face o1" the head with the lower ends of the rods yieldingly urged away from the head by a cylindrical spring IE5 engaged on each rod and compressed between the under face of the head and collars i225 ixed on the rods adjacent the lower ends thereof, whereby the initial downward movement of the head 93 will engage the rods with the resilient plates l2! and ex said plates against wear resisting inserts i2? in the supporting block lil', the continued -niovernent o the head 93 moving the rods toward the head against the force of the springs i555, as shown in Figure 12. The forward end of the forming die block lili is out away, as at 528 in Figure 3, to accommodate the dogs iLiB during the downward movement of the die block.

The horn H6 is mounted on the supporting block ii? to extend in vertical alinement with the longitudinal axis of the table T, and the hopper 33 is mounted on one side oi' the longitudinal axis of said table T, as shown in Fig. 7, so that the bending of the blank on the horn div v (iii l b on the horn, the feed bars being slidably supported in recesses in the opposite sides of the.

in Figures 16 and 17.

After the blank is formed toU shape it is engaged bythe first pair of dogs `of a series'of pairsof dogs |29 pivotally mounted in recesses |30 in the outer side wall of eachof the feed bars with an end portion of each dog yieldinglyy urgedby a spring |3| (Figure 22),to extend'lat#l erally from the outer sides of the feed barato .from the-guide member |33. The actuation of engage the rearward edge of the U shaped blank hornll, as at |32. The reciprocation-of the feed bars in a forward direction will move the-blank engaged by the vfirst pair of dogs |29 to a pair'of guidelmembers |33, |34 having latel erally extending angular arms' |35 fixed thereto with the free ends of the arms'r arranged with bosses |36 rotatably engaged on studs` |31 xedly vmountedin ears |33 fixed tospaced plates |39 xedlysupported on a table T so that the guide members may be .adjusted to positions to enclose arranged'with arcuate shapelongitudinal channels corresponding to one half of the upper surface of the horn, as `at |45, to maintain the blank in U shape on the horn while the opposite end portions of the blank extending" below the horn A are formed to hooked shape.

The blank isfintermittently fed along the horn to variousfdevices for forming the opposite end portions of the blank to hooked shape by thereciprocationf of the feed bars and the engagev ingeof preceding pairs of dogs |29 with the rrear v iixe'd at one' end to the guide members byvscrews' edge of the U shaped blank to position said blank toa succeeding device for forming 'the hooks.

During the retrograde movement of the feed barsv the dogs |29 are positioned Withinthe recesses |30 against the force of the springs |3| by the engagement thereofwith the blanks on the4 horn and to prevent movement of the blanksfromtheir actuated positions by the dogs during the retro- I' grade movement of the feed bars, pins |41 are slidably' mounted'in perforations in the guide members "extending at an angleto the :vertical axis of the members in a Idownward 'direction from the exterior walls to the arcuate channels l Edil with end portions of the pins having a fiat longitudinal face IM yieldingly urged to project from the surfacey of said` channels by springs '|42 |43 engaged in the outer face of the guide members |34 with the opposite ends engaged in' the ends of the pins extending from the outer face of the'gu'ide members. 'I'he pins are spaced equidistantly apart to engage the flat faces i4!" f with the rear edges ofthe'blanks predeterminedly` positioned on the horn by the dogs |29, as shown in Figureslland 19. The moving of the blanks by the dogs |29 to their predetermined positionsv will force'th'e pins`|4| into the guide members |33, |34 against the force of the springs |42 until the blanks reach their predetermined positions when the fiat-faces Ml of the pins'are positioned bythe springs |42 into the channels |40 l to engageA the rear edges of the blanks.

The guide members l |34' are releasably-re-` tained in their closed position to maintain the blanks on the horn by 'a pair of latch members` |44 vhaving oneend of hooked shape. and the'opi.

posite ends arranged with eccentric openings engaged on eccentrics, as shown at |45,'iixedly supported on a shaft |46 rotatably mounted in bosses |41 extending vertically from the guide member |34. 'The latclimembers are actuated in a longitudinal direction; as shown in dotted lines in Figure 26,'by a handle |48 fixed to the shaft |46 intermediate the ends thereof, into and out of engagement Awith la shaft |49 supported at the opposite ends in bosses |53 extending vertically the latch members out'of engagement with the position, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 15.`

The second pairy of dogs |29 on the feed bars will engage the blank positioned by the first pair of dogs |29 relative to the guidemembers |33,

y forming of said ends to hooked shape comprising a pair of tools |5|,1 |52 (Figures 14 to 19, inclusive), removablylmounted on opposite sides of a y flange |53 extendinglvertically from the face of a plate |54 xedto a slidev |55 slidably supported on the top of the table Tin a slideway formed by the opposingsides yofthe plates |39, as shown at |56 in Figures 14 and 19. AThe bending tool |5| is'normally positionedon one side of avdie member |51 mounted ina recessjin the side of the horn H6 juxtaposed to theinner surface ofthe longer end portion" of the blankand tool |52 is normally positioned on one side of a die member |58 carried juxtaposed exteriorlylto thelshorter end of the VU shaped blank by the connecting portion `of a U shaped supporting member |59 having the leg portions thereof integral with the plates |39. Subsequent toy the' positioning of a blank by the second'p'air of dogs |29'relative to the die members |51, |58,` theslidei is actuated transversely of the horn Heby the reciprocation of the carriage''through a cam roller |60 carried by the slide |55 and engaging an angle portion of a cam* 'slot- |6| in the carriage B13/having a straight'portion at the rear endand the angle portion at thefront end so that the retrograde movement of the carriage will flange the opposite end portions of a vblank positionedl relative to the die'members |51, |58.'v Y v :After the opposite Aend portions of the'blank are bent laterally, as shown at f in Figure 17, the blank "ismoved away from the die members |51, |58 by the third pairbf dogs |29 to a position where no *operation is performed on the blank and from this position the blank is advanced by the fourth pair-ofy dogs |29 relative to a die member |62 carried by theyhorn H6 in a recess in a side of thehorn vjuxtaposed to theinner surface of thelonger end portion of the blank, as shown at |63 in Figures 2() and 21, and a diemember |64 mounted onf` the support|59 on lthe side lof the horn opposite to the recessedside |53 and in a higher plane than the die member 62 tocorre-` v spend to the"difference in length of the opposite end yportions o'f the blank and engage the outer surface of the shorter end portion of the blank above the flange thereof. The blank is positioned by the fourth pair ofdogs |29 with the flanged end portions f of vthe blank extending below the die members |52 and |54. which have an angle shaped projection |55 on their faces' adjacent the end portions of theblank to form the flanged end portions `of the blank to hooked shape by bending opposite sides oi a flange |68 extending vertically from the upper face of a plate |69 adjustably mounted on a slide |16 slidable between laplate |39 at one end and members of pairs of spaced members |1| fixed on the table T at the opposite end of the slide. The tool |51 extends a greater' distance from the flange 4|68 than the tool |66 to co-operate with the die member |641 and the tools |66 and |61 are yieldingly urged away from the die members |62, |64 and the slide normally maintained on the table T by helical springs |12 mounted in recesses |13 in the vertical ange |622 with the upper ends abutting the bottom of the horn H6. Subsequent to the positioning of the blank relative to the die members |62, |64 and the bending tools |66, |61, said bending tools are actuated toward said die members to engage the end portions of the lateral end portions oi the blank and bend the lateral end portions t0 hooked shape, as Vshown at h in Figure 2l, over the angle shaped projections |65 of the die members |62. |64 by the retrograde movement of the carriage 68 through a cam |14 fixed to the upper face of the carriage and having a progressing angular cam face to engage a corresponding face of a central recess |15 in the underface of the slide |10 and move the slide |16 with the bending tools |66, |61 against the force of the springs |12 toward the die members |62, |64.

After the hooks h have been formed by the tools |66, |61, the blank b is advanced by the fifth pair of dogs |29 to a circular portion of the horn ||6, as shown at the right hand side of Figure 14, where the hooks h are engaged with each other and the blank formed to circular shape while the blank is maintained on the horn by the guide members |33, |34, by a pair of blades |16, |11 carried by blocks |16 slidable in slideways |19 on the table T formed by the members |1| and said blades being adapted to be adjustably retained on the-blocks by screws threaded in the blocks and engaging slots |8| in the blades, and adjusted toward and away from the horn by set-screws S2 adjustably mounted in Vertical flanges |83 at the outer sides of the blocks |18, The inner end of the blade |16 is arranged with a bevelled edge inclining from the lower face of the said blade to the upper face at an acute angle to the plane of the blade, as shown. at |84 in Figure 25, and the inner end of the blade |11 is bevelled at an obtuse angle to the plane of said blade, as at |85 inFigure 25. The blade |16 -is adapted to be actuated toward the horn ||6 to engage the bevelled edge |84 with th-e hook 7L of the shorter end of the blank b on the horn and position said hook in an elliptical recess |86 in the lower portion of the horn (Figure 25) when the bevelled edge |85 of the blade |11 engages the longer end portion of the blank and positions the hook of said end portion below the hook of the shorter end portion ofthe blank-.engaged in recess 86, so that the `hook of the shorter end portion of the blank will en gage the hook of the longer end portion of the blank engaged by the blade |11 under the tension of the material of the blank when retrograde movement is imparted to the blade |16 and the bevelled edge |84 is disengaged -from the hook of the shorter end portion of the blank. as shown in dotted lines in Figure 25. The blades |16, |11 are actuated from the shaft 36 through a pair of levers |81, |66 pivotally mounted in bifurcated hangers |89 suspended from the table T with one end of the levers bifurcated and extended through an opening |90 in the table T to engage a pin |9| fixed between the legs of a bifurcated portion |92 of the slide blocks |18 carrying the blades |16, |11, respectively. Cam rollers |93, |95: are carried by the opposite end portions of the levers f |61. |88, respectively, and yieldingly urged by a means to clamp the engaged hooks to each other i to form a'securing seam of the metal body com pricing an anvil |98 adjustably mounted on an arm |99 extended upwardly from the standard S in an arcuate direction over the table T, and retained in adjusted position by set screws 200 screw f.

threaded in a ange 20| of the arm whereby the anvil engages an intermediate portion of the blank. The hooks h of the blank are engaged by a ram or bumper having a head 222 and a shank 263 slidably mounted in a slideway 204 arranged in a plate 205 supported by the table T with the slideway extending through the table T, as shown in Figure 27, to adapt the foot of the shank to be engaged Vby a cam roller 266 carried by the crank disk 14 and secured to the hub of said disk by arcuate plates 261 secured to the hub on opposite sides of the roller, as shown in Figure 26. The head 262 is arranged with a presser member 208 slidable in a recess in the head and having an angle face yieldingly positioned to extend above the head by a. spring 209. In the lower position of the ram the presser member 268 is positioned in spaced relation to and on one side of the axis of the horn H6, under the downward angular force of a spring 216 carried by a set screw 2|| adjustably mounted in an angle portion 2 i2 of the plate 205 with the free end of the spring engaging a protuberance extending ai; an acute angle from the ram shank 203, as at 2 i3. The upward movement of the ram toward the horn will position a lateral projection 2| 4 at the foot of the shank 263 in engagement with a cam face ?.|5 xed to the lower portion of the slideway 201| and a cam shoe 2 |6 fixed to a side of the head 262 in engage ment with a cam face in the form of a plate 251 adjustably mounted on a vertical extension EIS of the plate 265 and adapted to be adjusted toward or away from the travel of the ram by set screws 2 9 mounted in a vertical ange 226 of the vertical extension 2|8 whereby lateral movement is imparted to the ram against the force of the spring 2|?) to position the presser member 263 into en gagement with and force the engaged hooks 71. of the blank b into a rectangular recess in an anvil plate 22| mounted in the lower portion of the horn, and the continued upward movement oi the ram being in a vertical direction forces the presser member 206 into the head 262 and engage a presser plate 222 mounted on the ram head with the hooks of the blank to clamp and form the hooks into a securing scam, as shown in Figure 2?. After the forming of the seam, the metal body IJ' is completed and is removed from the horn by the seventh and eighth pairs of dogs |29 into a suitable depository or relative to an apparatus for 224 adjustably mounted on a vertical extension 225 of the carriage block 83 to engage the rearward ends of the feed bars 82 and ll I, respectively, as shown in Figures 2,'3 and 4.

The carriage t8 and supporting channel (S9-arev lubricated by a lubricant, such as mineral oil,

carried by a receptacle 226 lmountedon the carriage 68, as shown in Figure 3. To prevent an accumulation of dirt about the lubricating recepta# cle and the feeding bar support83, there is prorails, cutters releasablymounted on the cross member in alinement with the corner portions of the blank, and actuating means connected to the slides to impart reciprocating movement t the cutters in a direction pcrpendicularly tov/ard and away from the blank to cut notches in the corner portions'of' the blank, and reciprocatory means mounted to engage the center portions of the blanks and inove lthe blanks along the rails to and away from'the notching means.

2. In apparatus for forming metal bodies,a reciprocatory carriage, a hopper mounted above the carriage-and arranged-.to support body blanks,v

in stack formation, suction means reciprocally Hmounted between the horizontal planes of the blank engaged by the suction means and movef said blank fromr the suction means by the reciprocationv of the carriage.

3. In apparatus for forming metal bodies, la reciprocatory carriage, a hopper mounted above the carriage and arranged to support body blanks* in stack `formation, suction means reciprocally mounted between the horizontal planes of the hopper and carriage and yieldingly urged to posi-V tion in spaced relation with the lower blank inV the hopper, means arranged on the carriage to engage and move the suction means into engagement with the lower blank in the hopper by the reciprocation of the carriage, the suction means separating the lower blank from the stack of blanks in the hopper on assuming its normal position, and means carried by the carriage to engage and strip the blank from the suction 'means' bythe reciprocationof the carriage.

4. In apparatus for forming 'metal bodieaa reciprocatory carriage, av hopper Amounted :in

superposedl relation to the carriage and-arranged to support body blanks in stack formation; a

' Imember slidably mounted between the horizontal v planes of the carriage and the hopper to have movement toward and away from the hopper and having an air passage therein opening tothe upper face thereof, means to normallyposition -the slidable member in spaced relation to the lower blank in the hopper, means to create a suction connected to the air passage in the slid able member, means arranged on the carriage to engage and move the slidable member to position the upper face thereof into engagement with vthe j lower blank in the 'hopperyandmeans to actuate the carriage and suction creating means in synchronism to create a suction when the upper face of the slidable member is engaged with the lower blank and reciprocate the carriage to permitthe slidable member to assume its normal position and separate the lower blank from the stack of blanks while the suction is maintained.

5. In apparatus to i'orm metal bodies as claimed -in claim 4, a feed barof. U shape carried by the carriage to engage and move the blank from the slidable member by the reciprocation of the carf riage, and' a. plate fixed to and spanning the bifurcation of the `U shaped feed bar with an' end portionprojecting from the forward end of the bar to engage the upperface oi the blank.

6. In apparatus to form metal bodies, a reciprccatory carriage, a hopper mounted above the carriage and arranged to support body blanksl in stack formation, a slideway mounted between the carriage 'andlthe hopper and having a lateral projection intermediate the ends thereof, a

member slidably mounted in the slideway andhaving a .recessed portion to accommodate the projection of the slideway, a suction cup carried by the slidable member in the acethereof, a spring engaged between a wall' of the recess in the slidable member and the projection of the slideway to'normally position the suction cup in spaced relation with the lowermost blank in the hopper, suction creating means connected to the suction cup, a cam xed on the carriage to engage the slidable member and move said member against the force of the spring to position the suction cup into engagement with the lowermost blank in the hopper, and means to actuate the carriage and the suction creating means in synchronism tov create a suction when the cam engages the slidable member and position the cam out o'lV engagement with the slidable memberto permit said member to assume its` normal posi-v tion under the force of the spring and separate the lowermost blank from the stack of blanks while the suction is maintained.

7. Inapparatus to form metal bodies, a reciprocatory carriage, a hopper mounted above the carriage having a wall adjustable toward and away from the opposite wall of the hopper to support in stack formation body blanks of different widths, a member slidably mounted be` tween the horizontal planes of the carriage and the hopper to have movement toward and away from the hopper and yieldingly urged away from the hopper, a suction cup adjustably mounted on the slidable member to have adjustment on said member corresponding to the adjustment of the wall of the hopper, means to create a suction connected in communication with the suction cup, means arranged on the carriage to engage and move the slidable member toward the hopper and position the suction cup into engagement with the lowermost blank in the hopper, and means to actuate the carriage and suction creating means in synchronism to create a suction when the suction cup is engaged with the lower-r most blank and 'reciprocate the carriage to permit the. slidable member to assume its normal position and separate the lowermost blank from the stack of blanks while the suction is maintained. V Y

8. In apparatus to form metal bodies as claimed in claim '7, a feed bar carried by the carriage and adapted to venfgage and stripr the blank from the suction cup by the reciprocation of the carriage in positioning thel movable member engaging lil] lil?

(Eil

means out of engagement with the member.

9. In apparatus to form metal bodies as claimed in claim '7, a ,feed bar carried by the carriage to engage and strip the blank from the suction cup in the normal position of the slidable member, and guide rails supported on the exterior of the adjustable Wall of the hopper and extended therefrom in a horizontal plane to engage the upper face of the blank while it is stripped from` the suction cup by the feed bar,

10. In apparatus to form metal bodies as claimed in claim l, a feed bar adjustably mounted on the carriage toV h ave adjustment corresponding tol the adjustment of 'the wall o the hopper to properly engage and strip the blank from the suction cup in the normal position of the slidable member.

11. In apparatus movable to form metal bodies,

-means to support a blank in flat condition, cutt'er means reciprocatory toward and away from the blank on the supporting means to notch thecorner portions of said blank, a horn extending longitudinally from the means to support the blank in at condition, means reciprocatory in a vertical direction toward and away rom the upper portion of the horn to engage a blank in dat condition and form said blank to U-shape on the horn, and means to successively move the .blanks along the blank supporting means and the horn to be operated on by the means to notch and. form the blank to U shape.

12. In apparatus to form metal bodies, a horn, means to bend a body blank about the horn. to

?U shape in cross section comprising a head slidably mounted to extend transversely above the horn and have movement toward. and. away from the horn, and a bending die carried by the head to engage the blank in flat condition and bend said blank about the horn to U shape, resilient members xed at one end with the free ends terminating adjacent to the opposite sides of the lower portion of the horn, and members carried by the head and yieldingly urged in a direction away from the head to engage and flex resilient members in a direction away from the horn during the movement of the head and die toward the horn to permit the bending oi the blank about the horn by the die and the movement of the head and die from the horn positioning the members carried by the head out of engagement with. the resilientI members and permitting the resilientJ members to assume their norma-l position and maintain the blank in U shape on the horn.

13. In apparatus to form metal bodies, means to support a. body blank in fiat condition, a horn having a U shaped contour and extended longitudinally from the means to support the body blank, a head slidably mounted to extend transversely above the means to support the body blank in flat condition and the horn and have movement toward and away from said means and horn, cutters carried by a portion of the head above the means to support the body blank in nat condition to notch the corners of the blank during the movement of the head toward said supporting means, and a bending die carried by the portion of the head above the horn to ybend the blank to U shape about the horn durvvmounted on each bar and yieldingly positioned to extend above the bars to engage and move the blank along the blank supporting means from the cutters to` the bending die, aseries 0f dogs mounted on each feed bar in equidistantly spaced relation to each other and yieldingly positioned to extend laterally from the bars to engage the opposite leg portions of the U shaped blank and intermittently advance the blank along the horn, and means to reciprocate the feed bars.

15. In apparatus to form metal bodies as claimed in claim 13, a pair of guide members, each member having an arcuate face portion corresponding to one half of the upper contour of the horn and pivotally mounted on opposite sides of the horn to have movement toward and away from the adjacent side of the horn, latches carried by one of said members adapted to be actuated into and out of locking engagementwith the other member when the members are positioned juxtaposed to the horn to maintain and guide the U shaped blank on the horn.

16. In apparatus to form metal bodies as claimed in claim 13, a pair of guide members, each member having an arcuate face portion corresponding to one half of the upper contour of the horn and pivctally mounted to have movement toward and away from the horn, and a series of pins slidably mounted in each member and yieldingly urged to extend from the arcuate faces to abut the rear edges of the U shaped blanks on the horn when. the members are positioned juxtaposed to the horn to maintain the blanks in adjusted positions on the horn.

17. In apparatus for forming metal bodies, a table, a carriage reciprocally mounted on the table, a horn supported by the table above the carriage, a series of dogs slidably mounted on the horn and operatively connected to the carriage, a hopper mounted on the table and arranged to support blanks for the metal bodies in stack formation, suction means reciprocally mounted on the table below the hopper and normally positioned in spaced relation with the lower blank in the hopper and adapted to be actuated by the carriage into engagement with said lower blank to separate said blank from the stack of blanks, cutters reciprocatory toward and away from the table adapted to notch the corners of the blanks, means Xed on the carriage to engage the separated blank engaged by the suction means and move said blank from the suction means to position relative to the corner notching dies, a die reciprocatory toward and away from the horn to bend a notched blank over the upper face of the horn with the opposite ends of the blank extending below the horn, means actuated transversely of the born by the reciprocation of the carriage to flange laterally the ends of the blank extending below the horn. means actuated toward and away from the lower face of the horn by the reciprocation of the carrlage to form the flanged ends of the blank to hook shape, a pair of blades mounted on the table on opposite sides of the horn adapted to be actuated in sequence to each other to engage the hooked ends of the blank with each other, and a ram reciprocatory toward and away from the lower face of the horn to engage and clamp the engaged hooked ends of the blank together and form a securing seam of a. metal body.

18. Apparatus for forming metal bodies as claimed in claim 17, wherein the horn is mounted out of alinement with the center of the hop per whereby the bending die will bend the blank over the horn with one end-of the blank extending below the opposite'end of the blank.

19. In apparatus for forming metal bodies, a horn having a U-shape portion and a circular portion, means to bend a flat blank to U shape in cross section on the U-shaped portion of the horn with the opposite marginal portions of said blank extending parallelly to each other, means operative to form the opposite marginal portions ofthe U shaped blank to hook shape, means tomaintain the blank in U shape during and after the forming of the opposite marginal portions to hook shape, a pair of blades slidably mounted on opposite sides of the blank positioned on the circular portion of the horn and actuated toward and away from the blank with one blade adapted to be actuated in sequence to the other .blade to catch the hooked portions of the blank with each other and form the blank to circular shapein cross section during the movement of the blades toward each other, means to clampI the engaged hook portions together and form a securing seam of a metal body, and means to advance the blank to the successive operating means.

20. In apparatus for forming metal bodies, a horn having a U shaped portion and a circular portion, means to bend a iiat blank to U shape v in cross section on the U shaped portion of the horn withy the opposite marginal portions of said blank extending parallelly to each other, means operative to form the opposite marginal portions of the U shaped blank to hook shape, means to maintain the blank in U shape during and after the forming of the marginal portions to hook shape, a pair of blades slidably and adm justably mounted to have adjustment toward and away from the opposite sides of the blank positioned on the circular portion of the horn and actuated toward and away from the blank, the movement of the blades toward each other catching the hooked marginal portions of the blank 

